BALL x PIT Naturalist Update: Release Date, New Characters, Balls, and Passives
BALL x PIT’s Naturalist Update adds two opposite character styles, 11 balls, and five passives. Here is everything confirmed before its August 6 release.
By Pixel Twelve StaffAug 3, 2026
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BALL x PIT - The Naturalist Update
Kenny Sun & Friends / Devolver Digital / PlayStation
The official trailer previews the new characters, balls, passives, and Naturalist Update combat.
BALL x PIT is ending its planned run of free 2026 content with two characters that push its build system in completely opposite directions. The Ballbearer gives up every passive slot for a much larger ball arsenal, while the Hoary Hoarder carries only two balls but doubles the available passive space.
That tradeoff is the most interesting part of the Naturalist Update. The new balls and passives add more options, but these characters change what a full run can look like from the first choice onward.
When does the BALL x PIT Naturalist Update release?
The BALL x PIT Naturalist Update releases on August 6, 2026. The official announcement directly confirms that date for PS5.
BALL x PIT is also available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, iOS, and Android. However, the announcement does not clearly confirm whether every version will receive the update at the same time. Players outside PS5 should check their store page or the official BALL x PIT channels when the rollout begins.
No exact release time has been announced.
What is included in the Naturalist Update?
The pre-release announcement confirms:
Two unlockable characters: the Ballbearer and the Hoary Hoarder
11 new balls
Five new passives
More content that the developers are keeping secret until release
Only five of the new balls and three of the new passives have been fully revealed. The remaining items are being saved as launch-day discoveries.
Is this the final BALL x PIT update?
The Naturalist Update is described as the final free content update for BALL x PIT. It follows the Regal Update from January and the Shadow Update from April, completing the three-update plan announced after the game reached one million sales.
“Final free update” does not necessarily mean the game can never receive another patch, balance change, or paid expansion. Nothing beyond the Naturalist Update has been announced, so future content should be treated as unknown rather than ruled out.
The Ballbearer explained
The Ballbearer doubles the usual number of ball slots but cannot use passive items.
The Naturalist Update pushes projectile builds in new directions. Image: Kenny Sun & Friends / Devolver Digital via PlayStation Blog.
That creates a simple but severe choice: more room for ball effects and combinations, with none of the bonuses that normally come from passives. A Ballbearer run should have more ways to fill the screen with projectiles, trigger different effects, and build toward ball Evolutions. The cost is losing passive damage, defense, utility, and other supporting effects.
The character may reward players who enjoy building around direct ball interactions instead of improving a smaller setup with equipment. It is too early to name the best Ballbearer combinations, because the full update and its six hidden balls are not available yet.
Players who enjoy experimenting with layered roguelite systems may recognize the same pleasure of finding one strong interaction and building around it. The decisions are different, but our Hades II Arcana Cards and Grasp guide covers a similarly important question: which upgrades deserve limited space in a build?
The Hoary Hoarder explained
The Hoary Hoarder takes the reverse approach. This character can carry only two balls but receives twice the normal number of passive slots.
The update adds new ways to balance a small ball selection with supporting effects. Image: Kenny Sun & Friends / Devolver Digital via PlayStation Blog.
With so little ball space, every projectile choice matters. The reward is a much larger passive setup, allowing item Evolutions and supporting effects to carry more of the run. Instead of collecting a wide arsenal, the Hoary Hoarder should encourage players to select a small core and strengthen it from several directions.
This may be the easier character to understand for anyone who prefers focused builds, but “easier” does not mean weaker or safer. Two poor ball choices could leave the whole setup without a reliable answer to bosses, crowds, or awkward enemy positions. The final balance will depend on the hidden passives, Evolution options, and unlocks included in the live update.
If you are new to games where early choices shape an entire run, the Hades II beginner guide explains the same basic habit in a different roguelite: start with a clear purpose instead of collecting every upgrade that looks individually strong.
Ballbearer vs Hoary Hoarder
The Ballbearer — Double the normal amount · None · Players who want a large projectile arsenal and more ball combinations
The Hoary Hoarder — Two balls · Double the normal amount · Players who want a focused core supported by many passive effects
These are descriptions of their confirmed mechanics, not a tier ranking. Neither character can be judged properly until players know the full Naturalist item pool and unlock rules.
All 11 Naturalist Update balls revealed so far
Five of the 11 balls have been named before release.
Lightning Bug
Lightning Bug creates a firefly after every bounce. The firefly searches for the strongest enemy and then shocks nearby targets.
The effect sounds useful when a dangerous elite or boss is surrounded by smaller enemies, because the ball selects the strongest target while the electrical burst can spread damage around it.
Mosquito Kingdom
Mosquito Kingdom builds a swarm by creating one or two mosquitoes whenever it hits an enemy. The mosquitoes search for the weakest target and deal between 100 and 150 damage each. If a mosquito lands the killing blow, the player recovers a small amount of health.
It combines cleanup damage with limited healing, although the final value will depend on how quickly the swarm grows and how its damage scales.
Drill
Drill pierces enemies from behind and deals extra damage while doing so.
Positioning should matter more than raw contact. The ball appears designed to reward paths that pass through an enemy and strike its back rather than simply bouncing into the nearest target.
Flesh
Flesh begins at half damage but becomes faster with every bounce. Its early hits should be weaker, while longer trips across the arena can turn it into a rapid projectile.
The main question is whether a build can keep Flesh moving long enough to benefit from that speed without losing too much damage at the start of a shot.
Armageddon
Armageddon marks the first enemy it hits and calls down a meteor shower. The meteors damage enemies within a three-tile radius around the target.
This is the clearest area-damage option revealed so far. Marking a central or durable enemy could keep the meteor zone useful while nearby monsters move through it.
What are the other six balls?
The developers have not revealed them yet. Their names, effects, Fusion rules, and Evolutions should be confirmed from the live patch rather than guessed from trailer frames.
All five Naturalist Update passives revealed so far
Three of the five passives have been detailed before launch.
Platinum Dumbbell
Platinum Dumbbell increases ball damage until the ball touches the back wall. Clean angles that keep a projectile away from that wall should preserve the bonus longer.
Inglorious Hammer
When a ball hits a wall or the back of the arena, Inglorious Hammer immediately strikes a random enemy for reduced damage. It adds another attack to bounces that would otherwise only redirect the ball.
Remote Detonator
Remote Detonator creates a level 1 Bomb Ball whenever an enemy dies. The effect could turn one kill into the start of a larger chain reaction when several weak enemies are packed together.
What are the other two passives?
Their names and effects remain hidden. There is also no confirmed list of their Evolutions or how they interact with the Hoary Hoarder’s expanded passive capacity.
How the Naturalist Update could change builds
BALL x PIT already asks players to balance balls, Fusions, Evolutions, passives, character mechanics, and New Ballbylon upgrades. The two Naturalist characters make that balance more extreme.
The Ballbearer removes one entire layer and gives the freed space to projectiles. The Hoary Hoarder restricts the projectile layer and expands the supporting one. That makes both characters useful for learning what each half of a build contributes.
The update may also create new combinations for existing characters, since the 11 balls and five passives are not limited to the newcomers unless the live patch says otherwise. Any definitive tier list should wait until the complete pool is known and tested.
What remains unconfirmed?
Several important details are still missing before launch:
The exact release time
Whether every platform receives the update simultaneously
How to unlock the Ballbearer and Hoary Hoarder
The identities of six balls and two passives
New Fusion and Evolution recipes
Whether a new building is included
The patch version and complete balance changes
Whether the update adds another mode or stage
No new mode has been announced. The Regal Update added Endless Mode, but that does not mean the Naturalist Update will follow the same pattern.
For BALL x PIT players, the sensible move is to let the update install before planning a new build. The live version should answer the remaining questions quickly, especially the hidden items and character unlock conditions.
Eleven balls and five passives expand the available combinations. Image: Kenny Sun & Friends / Devolver Digital via PlayStation Blog.
BALL x PIT Naturalist Update FAQ
When is the BALL x PIT Naturalist Update coming out?
The update releases on August 6, 2026. The current official announcement directly confirms that date for PS5.
Is the Naturalist Update free?
Yes. It is described as the third and final free content update in BALL x PIT’s 2026 roadmap.
Who are the new Naturalist Update characters?
The Ballbearer doubles the number of ball slots but cannot equip passives. The Hoary Hoarder carries only two balls but doubles the number of passive slots.
How many new balls are in the update?
There are 11 new balls. Five have been revealed: Lightning Bug, Mosquito Kingdom, Drill, Flesh, and Armageddon.
How many new passives are included?
The update adds five passives. Platinum Dumbbell, Inglorious Hammer, and Remote Detonator have been revealed, while two remain hidden.
Will the update launch on PC, Xbox, Switch, and mobile on August 6?
BALL x PIT is available on those platforms, but the current announcement only directly confirms the August 6 timing for PS5. Check the official game channels and each platform’s update history when the rollout starts.
Does the Naturalist Update add a new mode?
No new mode has been announced. The developers have teased additional surprises, but their exact form is still unknown.
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